Knicks believe there's bull's eye on them
New York Knicks guard Toney Douglas complains about the lack of a call, during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis. (March 15, 2011) Credit: AP
INDIANAPOLIS -- They may not be the "Heatles," but the Knicks believe they, too, have become a target of opposing teams looking to topple a star-studded lineup.
Just don't expect them to cry about it.
"No way," Chauncey Billups said. "You're never going to hear me do that."
During their recent five-game losing streak, Dwyane Wade made reference to how "the world is better now since the Heat is losing" and, of course, there was coach Erik Spoelstra revealing that some of his players were reduced to tears after a loss to the Bulls.
The Knicks?
Only their effort Sunday against the undermanned Pacers was a crying shame.
"We know that regardless of what people want to say, we are the new team, one of the new teams to beat," Carmelo Anthony said. "When guys play the New York Knicks, they're going to bring their best game. That's just the way it is. That's not something we sit around thinking about or complain about. It is what it is, we just got to strap up and do what we do."
Billups said the bull's-eye is on them "because of the star power this team has and the excitement we generated in a small amount of time. So all of a sudden, when you play against teams, you're getting their 'A' game, you're getting their best shot, their best blow.
"We're not where we're supposed to be, of course, because of the timing, but that's just the reality of it."
Happy for 'Knuggets'
The Nuggets have won eight of 10 games since the Anthony/Billups trade and one of the players the Knicks sent to Denver, Raymond Felton, was quoted in an Internet report saying the Nuggets "are a better team" than the Knicks.
But the new Knicks aren't interested in firing back.
"For me, it's really no big deal," Billups said. "I'm happy those guys are playing well. The guys I played with in Denver were really good players, so I knew they'd be OK."
Mike D'Antoni said he was happy for Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari, who are likely to get their first playoff experience. "God love 'em, but we've got our own job to do," D'Antoni said, "and we've got to do better."
